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Thursday, May 19, 2011

Quote du jour/Rachel Peden

An apple tree does not have to justify its existence by bearing fruit. Its fragrance, so delicate that it is almost stronger in memory than in reality, is sufficient. Or the sight of it. Irresistibly you step close enough to inhale from the heart of one bloom, although actually the fragrance is more distinct if you stand back a few steps letting the sun-touched wind bring the perfume to you. No one can ever forget the smell or the sight of a wide spreading apple tree in full bloom.Rachel Peden (1901-1975)

Such a lovely blog site you have created! I've been away from the computer on a trip for a few days so am just now catching up. Lovely, lovely poems, lovely book review of the children's book. Lovely lovely lovely. I'm overworking the word I know, but it seems to be the one that suits your posts best!Here's to more lovely writing in future!Cheers!Canadian Chickadee

Sallie, she is quite new to me as well. Not a poet, but a writer in the same vein as Gladys Taber. I've just bought her first book Rural Free, and like Gladys the book is divided into months. I'm planning to begin with June.

I want to say thank you for writing about my grandmother, Rachel Mason Peden, and introducing her to the readers of your blog. I am sure she would have enjoyed visiting with you. She would have invited you into her kitchen to enjoy a piece of pie made with love and the apples grown on the farm. Her third book, Rural Free, has just been made available from the IU press. It's forward is written by Scott Russell Sanders, also a great writer, that calls Monroe County home. Merry Christmas!Rachel Peden McCarty

Rachel, I am so, so happy you found my blog and wrote me a note. I'm delighted to meet you! I am so enjoying my year-long visit with your grandmother and Gladys Taber. If you want to read about these monthly reports, scroll down to Letter Topics, and click on A Year with Gladys and Rachel. I just bought Rural Free, and I also have The Land, The People. I look forward to reading both. Please do stop by again.

Rachel, if you come back, I goofed in my comment to you! I meant to say I had just bought Speak to the Earth. Rural Free is the book I'm reading month by month and writing about in A Year with Gladys and Rachel. Duh.